Morris tribune., 1887-11-16

poor girl seemed to be In o dazed state.
She saw something in her lover that no
one else saw, GOODNESS that she alone
could detect.
After his departure we all began Won
dering when the marriage would take
place had said nothing to Strong about
it, and he had not mentioned 1t to me.
Only once had he said anything tnat re-
motely referred to it.
"You people call me q rich man." he
said, 'and suppose am, but you do not
know how complicated my business is.
am liable any night to go home million
or two richer or wretched pauper. For
Gods sake let speculation aloneW
thought of Strong's words often dur
ing the next year. From time to time we
heard of his success. Everything that he
touched seemed to turn to gold. Even in
New York men spoke of him as the young
Napoleon.
1t was an awful crash, and it carried
some of the proudest firms in the great
city down with it.
In our little village we could hardly re-
alize it. Surely Strong had been prsdent
| enough to save something out OF the
| wreck.
Our hope proved to be without founda-
tion. Not only had Strong's entire fortune
been swept away, but he would have to
begin the world again owing fully MIL
lion dollars.
I The brave fellow bore up for few days.
| His conduct was so manly that there was
some talk of setting him upon his feet
again, and it was predicted that he would
retrieve his losses and make another for
| tune.
But the strain was too much. Finally
he staggered to his bed, and when he arose
from it, long weeks afterwards, his attack
of brain fever had done its worst.
s'IIe is mental wreck, p" said Banker
Jones, who had just returned from New
| York.
SIS there no hope?'
! ''None whatever He will never regain
his senses. Ho may improve physically,
! but his mind is gone forever"
1--WE must do something for him." I
said.
Something has been DONE" replied
Jones with very moist eyes. 'Varina"--
! ''''What has she done?"
''1'hat noble woman, sir, went on to
New York. with her uncle. They took
poor Strong and placed him in a private
asylum, where he will receive every care
and attention. You know that Varina
her uncle, who is going to make her his
heiress. Well, those two are going to
foot the bills and see to it that Strong is
taken care of as long as he lives"
1t was years afterward when I saw
Strong for the first time since his misfor-
tune.
Business had called me to New York,
and on the second day after my arrival
visited the asylum, a short distance from
the city.
At first thought that Strong had COM
pletely recovered, no was looking SO well,
but his talk undeceived me.
''And how is Cottonville?'' he asked
"Slow old place, too slow, no progress,
nothing to keep a man Of ability there.
Why don't you come here? have some
big schemes on foot, and possibly I'll let
you in"
1 was glad to see that he recognized me,
and / humored his rambling talk for an
hour. .-. ~.
81 saw Vari1a before left,' said.
"Varina! Oh, little Varina Vincent.
Do you know once thought of marrying
her, but I saw that it wouldn't do. Good
| girl but no force of character, you know.
Why, they call me the young Napoleon of
finance. Now, how would such a wife
have suited me? Well, managed it SO
as not to hurt her feelings. let the en-
gagement run along, and at last she Of
fered to release me. accused her of not
having faith in me, and got in high
dudgeon and accepted my freedom. Good,
/ wasn't it?''
1t was too much for me. rose to go.
Strong accompanied me to the door, and
chatted about his imaginary speculations.
"Stayp' he cried, AS was leaving.
| He handed me little flower from the
/ profusion that decked his table.
''Give that to Varina," he Said.
took it and rushed of, unable to
speak.
| Of course I pressed that flower, and
took the utmost care of it until reached
| Cottonville.
When / gave it to Varina, and told her
who sent it, the poor thing cried over it
until thought her heart would break.
Women are so peculiar. Wallace P. Reed